4. Thoroughbred Racing

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THOROUGHBRED RACING

More than 80 years ago, Keeneland’s founders set the course for what has become one of Thoroughbred racing’s richest traditions. Their vision was to create two festival-like race meets held each year in the heart of Thoroughbred country. Those dreams are realized today with Keeneland running three-week race meets in April and October. Keeneland offers racing on two different race tracks. The main track has a dirt surface. Some races are held on the inside grass or turf course.

RACE-DAY TIMELINE

Barns & Morning Workout

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Owners and trainers house their horses in barns on the race track grounds. Horses race in the afternoon, but they train very early every morning. Exercise riders gallop the horses over the track to keep them in top racing form.

Paddock Before each race, horses are walked from the barn area to the Paddock and saddled among the Paddock’s tall trees. After being saddled, the horses are led to the Walking Ring where the jockeys mount them. The horses are then led onto the track for the post parade and finally into the starting gate.

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Starting Gate To begin a race, all Thoroughbreds must be loaded into the starting gate, one at a time, generally in the post position order that has been assigned to them. As each Thoroughbred is loaded into the starting gate, the gate is momentarily locked from behind. The start of the race happens with each individual stall gate opening simultaneously. You usually hear the track announcer say “And they’re off,” signaling that the race has begun.

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Race

The change in position during a horse race begins to happen as Thoroughbreds enter the first turn of the race. There are usually two to three turns during longer races. At the first turn, you will notice the Thoroughbreds begin to establish themselves in any number of positions relative to each other. Examples of racing positions include: } In the lead—at the front of the pack } On the rail—running to the left of the other horses, along the rail that goes around the inside of the oval track } On the outside—running to the right side of the other horses, or closer to the rail that goes around the outside of the track nearest the grandstand } Boxed in—either in between horses on both sides and blocked by a horse in front, or in between the

inside rail, another horse to the right and a horse in front, or any combination by which a horse is blocked from passing or proceeding to the front of the pack } Nose to nose—running side-by-side } Bringing up the rear—the last horse in the pack

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Race Track

Race tracks and their features, including starting gates and inside rails, are specially designed to be as safe as possible for horses and jockeys. A track’s length varies on where you are; Keeneland’s dirt track is 1 1/16 miles long, and it is 75-80 feet wide. The shortest race here is 4½ furlongs on dirt. Keeneland is among tracks with grass racing on a turf course inside the dirt oval. The turf course here is 7½ furlongs (not quite one mile) in circumference. Keeneland’s longest race is 1 ½ miles on turf.

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After crossing the finish line horses begin their cool down process by gradually reducing their speed in what is called “galloping out.” Once this is complete the winner will head to the winner’s circle to receive the trophy and take a photo. Once they return to the barn, horses are hand-walked by their stable staff, given a bath and some treats and tucked in for some well-deserved rest. After the Race

JOCKEYS

What does a jockey wear?

A jockey’s outfit, called tack, consists of the following:

1. GOGGLES Goggles are the most frequently replaced item of tack due to heavy use because they offer protection from the track surface as it is kicked back in a jockey’s face.

A jockey might stack as many as six different pairs of goggles on his or her helmet before a race on a rainy day. As one pair gets too blurred for good vision, he or she will quickly yank the used pair down around his or her neck to continue to have clear vision—at least until that next pair of goggles needs to be removed.

2. HELMETS Racing regulations in Kentucky mandate the use of British helmets, which are made of fiberglass or carbon-fiber because they meet certain safety standards for resisting impact and penetration.

3. PANTS There are regular white pants, mud pants and lined winter racing pants for cold weather. Jockeys can have 10 or 12 pairs in their bags. Jockeys will change pants after every race on a muddy day; routine changes during bad weather are standard. A change of pants isn’t absolutely necessary between races, but jockeys often will change them to maintain a good appearance in the paddock.

4. SAFETY VESTS Underneath the silks, which the owner of the horse provides, a jockey must wear a safety vest much like that worn by National Football League quarterbacks. The vest wraps the jockey in rows of rubber pads to provide protection without impeding movement. Exercise riders also must wear safety vests.

5. BOOTS Boots made of a synthetic patent leather called Clarino complete the apparel portion of a jockey’s tack and can be bought off the shelf or be custom-made.

6. SILKS Completing a jockey’s attire are the silks. Silks (or colors) are the jackets and helmet covers worn by a jockey during a race to distinguish the owner of a horse. The origin of modern jockey silks comes from England. Through the years, jockey silks have contributed to the colorful pageantry of horse

OTHER TACK

Tack includes not only what the jockey wears, but the saddle and the girth (the strap that goes around the horse to secure the saddle) worn by the horse in each race. These items are part of the tack the rider must own and supply.

Each jockey also has a valet who stores and cares for saddles, girths, boots and personal items during a race meet. The valet ensures the correct silks are in the jockey’s locker, carries the saddle and equipment to the paddock and helps the trainer saddle the horse. After the race, the valet meets the rider and carries the saddle and equipment back to the jockey’s room.

Saddles, made of Clarino, are the heaviest single item of tack

but they weigh far less than what you might think. The lightest saddle weighs three-fourths of a pound, and the average saddle weighs a pound to 1 1/4 pounds.

Weighty Matters Each horse must carry a specific weight in a race depending on the conditions of the race. That weight will include the jockey, of course, but also some of the tack. A helmet, the goggles and a riding crop are not included in the weight, nor is the safety vest. The horse’s saddle and girth do count in the specific weight a horse must carry, but the horse’s blinkers, bridle and numbered saddle towel do not.

Weight must be added to the saddle pads if the jockey and

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racing. Today, owners take great pride in using unique combinations of colors and patterns to personalize their silks. Jockeys aren’t responsible for providing silks; horse owners buy these colorful shirts (and color-coordinated helmet covers) that accompany their horses from track to track.

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TOP 5 JOCKEYS WITH THE MOST WINS AT KEENELAND

PAT DAY 918 wins DON BRUMFIELD 71 6 wins ROBBY ALBARADO* 52 wins JULIEN LEPAROUX* 4 wins SHANE SELLERS 412 wins *still active

tack don’t add up to the required weight. This can be achieved, in part, with saddle selection. A lighter jockey who weighs 110 pounds or less might use a large saddle that weighs up to seven pounds or more. At Keeneland, weighted saddle pads are called Best Pad. Developed by Lexington veterinarian Dr. Philip Shrimpton, they are an alternative to placing lead weights in a carrying pouch under the saddle to increase the weight to the required amount.

Fans generally won’t see a jockey wear gloves except on the coldest days at Keeneland, but gloves are in the equipment (tack) bag of every jockey who competes during the winter at northern tracks.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DIRT SURFACE

Race tracks that Thoroughbreds compete on across the U.S. are more than dirt ovals. They are sophisticated multi-layered systems that require experts to install and maintain.

Keeneland’s 1 1/16-mile track features the finest materials available and uses advanced technology to produce a race track that is as safe as possible for horses and their riders.

The first layer of Keeneland’s track is a drainage system covered by porous asphalt, which is covered by a thin layer of fabric, a layer of fine sand and six inches of dirt surface that was blended in Kentucky. A state-of-the-art drainage system was installed under the inside and outer rails to help water quickly drain away from the track. The track’s superintendent is responsible for maintaining the condition of the track and uses a satellite to help maintain the grade (slope) of the track. He also monitors details such as the track’s soil density and moisture to keep it in prime condition.

KEENELAND HAS 3 TRACKS

Main Track 1 1/16 dirt

Turf Course (grass) 7 1/2 furlongs

Training Track 5 furlongs

8 furlongs = 1 mile

BREEDERS’ CUP RETURNS Nov. 6–7, 2020

Keeneland is pleased to host this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships. In 2015, Keeneland held the Breeders’ Cup and presented a memorable homecoming for the championships in the

44,947 Keeneland hosted the largest Friday attendance in Breeders’ Cup history in 2015

$150 MILLION WAGERED ON THE 2015 BREEDERS’ CUP AT KEENELAND

4.6 MILLION Viewers who watched the NBC telecast of the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland in 2015

25 INTERNATIONAL CONTENDERS COMPETED IN 2015

450 Private jets parked or picked up from Blue Grass Airport in 2015

50,155 PEOPLE ATTENDED BREEDERS’ CUP SATURDAY IN 2015, A RECORD FOR KEENELAND

BREEDERS’ CUP TROPHY The Breeders’ Cup trophy is an authentic bronze reproduction of the original Torrie horse that was created in Florence by Giovanni da Bologna in the late 1580s. It is thought to reveal the influence and example of Leonardo da Vinci as it is similar to sketches of a proposed monument he never completed.

$65 MILLION + ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BREEDERS' CUP ON FAYETTE COUNTY

TRIPLE CROWN WINNER AMERICAN PHAROAH MADE HISTORY BY WINNING THE FIRST “GRAND SLAM” DURING THE BREEDERS' CUP AT KEENELAND IN 2015